FREE AppalachianThe December 2015 / January 2016VOICE Developing Perspective The unfolding portrait of Appalachia in film and photography Also Inside: Sumac, A Winter Spice | Powering a New Economy | New Books for Young Readers EXPORT A note from the executive director ss TheAppalachianVOICE cro Appalachia The winds of change are blowing in Central Appalachia, carrying voices of people determined to see their A Environmental News From Around the Region A publication of communities thrive in a future where the coal industry no longer dominates. Since July, 24 local government AppalachianVoices entities have passed resolutions supporting major federal investment to invigorate the region’s economy in new ways. Most of the resolutions support a White House proposal called POWER+, a multi-billion dollar Mountain Music Trail Winds Through WV NC: 171 Grand Blvd., Boone, NC 28607 • 828-262-1500 State Environmental Departments Criticized plan to foster economic opportunities in coal-impacted communities. VA: 812 East High Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902 • 434-293-6373 By Eliza Laubach regulations passed by the state earlier By Elizabeth E. Payne also about preserving the music. It’s Early this year, we opened our new office in Norton, Va., at the heart of the coal-bearing region, Other Regional Offices: Knoxville, TN • Norton, VA • Raleigh, NC this fall. If discrepancies are found with about sharing the music of our region determined to advance sustainable economic solutions through citizen engagement and outreach to all levels North Carolina’s Department of Following U.S. Route 219 through AppalachianVoices.org | [email protected] federal requirements, the EPA could and our culture.” of government officials. We co-hosted several community forums in Southwest Virginia this fall, and people Environmental Quality’s regulatory Monroe, Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Ran- withdraw their authorization of DEQ’s The trail also provides an opportu- EDITOR ..........................................................JAMIE GOODMAN from all walks of life came to share their visions for a new economy (see page 20). control is in jeopardy, according to a dolph and Tucker counties in West permitting programs. nity to highlight local businesses along MANAGING EDITOR ............................................ MOLLY MOORE Progress on this front is one way we’ve continued our quest for a sustainable future that honors our letter sent to the state department’s sec- Virginia, the Mountain Music Trail ASSOCIATE EDITOR .................................... ELIZABETH E. PAYNE In Kentucky, a WFPL Louisville the route, including several microbrew- region’s unsurpassed natural heritage. As 2015 draws to a close, we’re celebrating highlights of the past retary from the U.S. Environmental highlights the old-time music of the CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ........................................BRIAN SEWELL Public Media investigation found that eries. The organizers have also part- CONTRIBUTING EDITOR .......................................ELIZA LAUBACH year’s work. Protection Agency in October. In the Mountain State. the state’s Department of Environ- nered with the Mountain Dance Trail, DISTRIBUTION MANAGER .................................... LAUREN ESSICK • We helped thousands of citizens weigh in on the Obama administration’s proposed Stream letter, the EPA expressed concern that Inspired by Virginia’s heritage EDITORIAL ASSISTANT .................................... W. SPENCER KING Protection Rule and are in close communication with agency officials to push for a strong final rule. mental Protection has become lax in a project celebrating West Virginia’s EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ........................................... CHRIS ROBEY recent court cases limit citizen rights music trail, the Crooked Road, The regulatory enforcement over the past vibrant tradition of community square GRAPHIC DESIGNER .................................... MAGGIE SHERWOOD • We partnered with Google and SkyTruth to launch the interactive “Communities at Risk from to appeal DEQ permits beyond federal Mountain Music Trail connects musi- 20 years. Budget cuts, staff reductions dancing. GRAPHIC DESIGNER ...........................................HALEY ROGERS Mountaintop Removal” tool, which uses satellite imagery to show that mining continues to standards. cians and musical venues along this MARKETING ASSISTANT ..................................... ANDREW TARLEY and recent industry-friendly adminis- The West Virginia Division of Tour- encroach on communities. The DEQ’s response claimed they scenic highway. Participating musicians trations have contributed to decreasing ism and West Virginia Public Broadcast- • In North Carolina, we deepened our partnership with people living near coal ash ponds and were misunderstood and argued that include The Black Mountain Bluegrass DISTRIBUTION VOLUNTEERS: Alison Auciello, Karen Austin-Clayton, Debbie potential fracking sites and helped these residents form a statewide coalition to compel Duke violations and enforcement pursued in ing’s Mountain Stage collaborated to Bahr, Heather Baker, Becky Barlow, Aaron Barr, Shawn Becker, Bob Belton, Blue state permitting rules give citizens Boys and Aurora Celtic, and venues Energy and the state to clean up coal ash. court. Legal proceedings over violations produce a virtual tour of the new music Ridge Mountain Sports, Blue Smoke Coffee, Charlie Bowles, Lynn Brammer, Ben greater input than the federal rules. range from the Pocahontas County Op- Bristoll, Steve Brooks, Teri Crawford Brown, Derek Burke, Sarah Smith Caskey, • We worked with residents and partners in Virginia to elevate clean energy as a priority for the currently average about 50 percent trail. The website provides videos of If the court verdicts are upheld, the era House in Marlinton to The Purple Charlie Chakales, Kim and Shay Clanton, Patty Clemens, Darlene Cunningham, McAuliffe administration to create jobs and reduce carbon pollution. less cases per year than 15 years ago, stops along the trail, streaming music Sister Beth Davies, Deborah Deatherage, Bill Elliott, Jakob Elliott, Nels Erickson, EPA could exercise its right to review Fiddle in Thomas. • Our Energy Savings for Appalachia program moved electric cooperatives in North Carolina and according to data reviewed by the in- of featured artists and an interactive Lara Foster, Frank Frey, Charles Garratt, Dave Gilliam, Scott Goebel, Amelia DEQ’s permitting programs, the letter “Economic development is one Golcheski, Lisa Goodpaster, Bruce Gould, Gary Greer, Jed Grubbs, Bill Harris, Tennessee to commit to up-front financing for energy efficiency improvements vestigation, which also found that some map. It is an invitation to spend at least said, which would also encompass a of the primary reasons we wanted to Paul Hays, Susan Hazlewood, Sharon Helt, Tim Huntley, Pamela Johnston, Mary on customers’ homes. of Kentucky’s waterways are more a weekend exploring West Virginia. K., Denny Keeney, Allison Keith, Rose Koontz, Frances Lamberts, Susan Lewis, We are grateful for the members and concerned citizens who help us make package of changes to environmental start this project,” Cara Rose, execu- Loy Lilley, Aaron Linas, Debra Locher, Joy Lourie, Diane Lucas, Gail Marney, polluted than they were a decade ago. For more information and to take in change and our supporters who make this work possible. tive director of the Pocahontas County Mast General Store, Pamela Maynard, Kathy McClory, Kim Greene McClure, Rich the sounds and sights of the virtual tour, Convention and Visitors Bureau, told McDonough, Mike McKinney, Steve Moeller, Nick Mullins, Catherine Murray, Don Here’s to another year of working together for Appalachia! visit mountainmusictrail.com. O’Dell, Rob Osborne, Eva Perkins, Patti Phelps, Rick Phelps, Bronwyn Reece, For the mountains, Algae Blooms, Water Quality Withers the Charleston Gazette-Mail. “But it’s Martin Richards, Carol Rollman, Kristin Rouse, Jenny Rytel, Debbie Samuels, Steve Scarborough, Gerry and Joe Scardo, Frank Schaller, Kathy Selvage, Brenda By W. Spencer King told the Courier Journal. According to Sigmon, Lucy Spencer, Jennifer Stertzer, Jim Stockwell, Robert Thompson, Tom Cormons, Executive Director Goodman, creating a plan to control Derrick Von Kundra, Bill Wasserman, Dean Whitworth, Amy Wickham, Graham Algae may not be the first pollutant Williams, Barbara Williamson, Diana Withen, Gabrielle Zeiger, Ray Zimmerman that comes to mind, but in Kentucky, the pollutants that feed the algae is a blue-green algae in the Ohio River has very complex task, as the pollutants Warm up with our GET INVOLVED environmental & cultural events See more at appvoices.org/calendar become a concern for water quality and are often found in runoff from farms, human safety. The particular algae is a wastewater treatment plants, and com- Christmas in Old Appalachia Free Entrance to National Parks Cast Iron Cook Off Submit event information to cyanobacteria containing a toxin that is mercial fertilizers. spices and teas. Dec. 5-24: Join the Museum of Appalachia for Jan. 19: Celebrate Martin Luther King Day with Feb. 5-6: Teams of amateur cooks paired with the [email protected] by Jan. 25 Environmental organization Ken- a celebration of the holidays in modest pioneer fee free national park entrances. Visit: nps.gov/ region’s finest chefs compete to create innovative for listing in our February-March issue harmful to humans who come in direct fashion. Traditional trees and hand-made deco- findapark/feefreeparks.htm